India, Fiji ink three MoUs during Modi visit

India inked three MoUs with Fiji, including on earmarking land for diplomatic mission buildings in each other's capitals, during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi here Wednesday.

Modi was here on a day-long visit, the first by an Indian prime minister after 33 years.

The first MoU was for training programmes for diplomats, signed between the Foreign Service Institute of India and the ministry of foreign affairs of Fiji.

This will foster closer exchanges between India and Fiji, as well as the Pacific region, an official statement said.

The second MoU was on earmarking land in New Delhi and Suva for the construction of their diplomatic missions. This will provide a permanent location for the conduct of our relations and will be an iconic presence in Suva, it said.

The third MoU was for extending a $70m line of credit for establishing a co-generation plant at Rarawai Sugar Mills in Fiji.

This will expand the scope of bilateral cooperation in the sugar sector by enhancing value addition and addressing climate change concerns.

India had earlier provided assistance for upgradation and product development at three of Fiji's major sugar mills, it said.